New York: Neil Grotzinger, a part-time professor at Parsons and designer of the Nihl brand, blends sustainability with creativity. His latest collection draws on nostalgia while challenging conventional office wear, using unique techniques that highlight the beauty of vintage materials in contemporary designs.
Neil Grotzinger, a part-time professor at Parsons School of Design and the designer behind the Nihl brand, is making waves in the sustainable fashion scene with his innovative approach to textiles. His passion for materials, particularly in embroidery and beadwork, serves as a foundation for his unique designs, which play a significant role in the movement towards upcycling and zero-waste initiatives.
For Nihl’s upcoming fall collection, Grotzinger drew inspiration from the everyday and the mundane. He utilised old pages from the iconic Sears, Roebuck catalog, creatively reinterpreting them into a range of garments, including bias-cut dresses and insets on traditional dress shirts. Instead of merely reprinting the pages, he employed sublimation techniques alongside an iron, which enabled him to transfer the vintage images onto the fabric in a distinctive manner. The garments boast diverse patterns that appear faded and are marked by the indents of the iron, adding a layer of detail that conjures a sense of nostalgia. “It’s basically the same process you use to digitally print fabric,” Grotzinger shared, “But it’s less effective because you’re using an iron. But I just like it, it has a strangely homey feeling to it.”
The collection also challenges conventional notions of office wear. Grotzinger transformed staple pieces like cotton shirts, blazers, and practical trousers into oversized silhouettes, incorporating layers of undergarments and long overcoats, thereby blending aesthetics with practicality in a sustainable manner.
Among the standout designs are tops created through a radical process that involves dissolving the fabric in water and separating the stitches. This technique intentionally renders the pieces to appear aged and “moldy,” as Grotzinger articulated, stating, “It’s as if a dress became shards and wound up only as a top.”
Many of the creations in the Nihl collection, while unique and one-of-a-kind, reflect Grotzinger’s artistic exploration and commitment to textile artistry. “Fashion is very fun for me. I really love textile artistry and experimenting with different techniques,” he remarked, highlighting his approach to the craft and the importance of individual expression within sustainable fashion.
Grotzinger’s work embodies a broader movement towards second-hand clothing and slow fashion, which are integral to reducing the environmental impact of the industry while empowering consumers to embrace sustainable style choices without sacrificing aesthetics.
Source: Noah Wire Services
